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How to change front suspension strut on VAUXHALL Astra Mk VI (J) Saloon (P10) – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
VAUXHALL Astra Mk VI (J) Saloon (P10) 1.6 … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

This video shows the replacement procedure of a similar car part on another vehicle

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. Tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #15
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Torx bit T30
                    
                      Torx bit T40
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Shock absorber socket #9
                    
                      Clip removal tool
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Rubber mallet
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. AUTODOC recommends:

Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.

Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.

Step 3

Remove the cowl grille seal.
Step 4

Remove the windscreen wiper arm nut covers. Use a clip removal tool.
Step 5

Treat the wiper arm fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 6

Unscrew the fasteners of the windscreen wiper arms. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 7

Remove the wiper arms.
Step 8

Raise up and remove the cowl grille.
Step 9

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 10

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a shock absorber socket №9 Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 11

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 12

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 13

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.

Step 14

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. AUTODOC experts recommend:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 15

Remove the wheel.
Step 16

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #15. Use Torx T30. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 19

Remove the brake hose retaining clip.
Step 20

Disconnect the brake hose. Use a crowbar.
Step 21

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.

Step 22

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 23

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 24

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 25

Remove the fastening bolts.
Step 26

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 27

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts. VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon
Step 28

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 29

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. AUTODOC recommends:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 30

Compress the spring.
Step 31

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 32

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a shock absorber socket №9 Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 33

Remove the top strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 34

Release the coil spring.
Step 35

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.
Step 36

Remove the spring.
Step 37

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. Tip:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 38

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 39

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 40

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 41

Compress the spring.
Step 42

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 43

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #18. Use Torx T40. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 50 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 44

Decompress the spring.
Step 45

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 46

Treat the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 47

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 48

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount Do not tighten it.

Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when screwing the fastening bolts in.
Step 49

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 50

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 51

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 52

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 53

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 54

Attach the brake hose.
Step 55

Install the brake hose retaining clip. Use a rubber mallet.
Step 56

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 57

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 58

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #15. Use Torx T30. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 40 Nm torque.
Step 59

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.+60°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 60

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 61

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 62

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. Tip:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 63

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon
Step 64

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 65

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 66

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 67

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #18. Use Torx T40. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 45 Nm torque.
Step 68

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 69

Install and secure the cowl grille.
Step 70

Reinstall the wiper arms.
Step 71

Tighten the fasteners of the wiper arms. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 21 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – VAUXHALL ASTRA Mk VI (J) Saloon. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Make sure not to mix up the wiper arms on the driver's and passenger's sides.
Step 72

Install the nut covers of the windscreen wiper arms.

Step 73

Install the cowl grille seal.

Step 74

Remove the fender protection cover.

Step 75

Close the hood.

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